Page 88 of Counterfeit Connection

“I’ll bring up some coffee in a little bit, just in case you might need a buffer.”

“You always know what I need. Thank you.”

We cross the threshold and I crane my neck to take it all in. Holy shit. This place is huge.

“Did you grow up in this house?”

Griffin does something of a scoff-laugh mix. “No. My father bought this place during some kind of midlife crisis. It’s too big and ostentatious.”

“Where is the home you grew up in?” I ask him as we start the trek up the stairs.

“We lived in a lot of houses and flats. There wasn’t a singular place.”

I frown. “That makes me sad, actually. My memories of home are some of my favorites. I hate that you don’t have those.”

We reach the top of the stairs and take a left but stop short of what I can only assume is his father’s office door. “I made memories with my mom and brother, no matter where we were.” He turns to face me and takes my face in his hands. “I don’t know what is going to come out of his mouth in there, okay? He could cross many lines, but just know… this will likely be your first and only interaction with him, if I can help it.”

“If he treats you like how I think he will, that’s all I want. Otherwise, it will be a bad day for him.” I wink.

“Fuck. I love you.”

A gruff voice comes from behind the door. “Did you think I didn’t know you were here? We have cameras, you know.”

Wow. What an asshole.

Griffin wraps his hand around my hip, pulling me close as he turns the knob of the giant ornate wood office doors. The right door swings wide and when it opens, it’s a room three times the size of my whole apartment. The wall behind the desk, which is straight ahead of us, is a wall of windows and dead center, at the desk, sits Lachlan Shaw.

“I wasn’t trying to sneak in, Father,” Griffin says as we step inside.

“It certainly seemed otherwise,” Lachlan says from his seat. He doesn’t stand to greet us. He just stays in one spot, puffing on a cigar.

“We won’t take up too much of your time. I wanted to formally introduce you to my girlfriend, that way you can stop making assumptions about her and her family based on tabloids and internet trolls.”

Lachlan laughs and finally rises from his seat. “There’s no need for us to bring our bickering out in front of mixed company, Griffin.”

“Father, this is Kaitlyn Logan, my girlfriend. Kaitlyn, this is my father, Lachlan Shaw.”

I extend my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Shaw. I’ve heardmanythings about you.”

“Hmm. Indeed. I’m sure you have. I’ve heard little to nothing about you, other than what Page Six has told me. Let’s hope most of that is inaccurate.”

I can feel the anger ready to boil out of Griffin’s body. I flex my grip on his arm in a silent way to let me handle it. “Usually when you meet someone new, pleasantries would follow. At least that’s what my parents taught me. What they also taught me is when presented with hatred, I don’t have to stand and take it. So, let’s get down to it. You tell me what you want to know and I’ll answer it. Then we don’t have to waste time playing any games.”

Griffin clears his throat in a vain attempt to mask the laugh he was trying to hold back. “I see you’ve found yourself a tiger. That didn’t come across in the tabloids. I thought I’d get the usual unintelligent whores I’m used to seeing you with.”

I stand up straighter and take off my metaphorical earrings.Let’s do this.“First of all, women should be called women, no matter what they may do or not do behind closed doors. Secondly, I think my MBA and my law degree should speak for themselves, and lastly, I’m only a tiger when provoked. Like now, for example.”

Lachlan nods and takes another drag from his cigar and blows it up and over our heads. “I like your fire. Maybe you’ll teach my son how to have some.” He turns on his heels and heads back to his desk. “While I have you here, come have a seat. I’d like to discuss something with you. You can stay if you’d like, Ms. Logan. I normally don’t allow women in my office while I’m conducting business, but I’ll make an exception.”

“Dad,” Griffin chimes in. “One more out-of-line remark and I’ll take Kaitlyn out of here and we can do all of our business through messengers and lawyers.”

Shaw holds his hands up as if to surrender, but I think everyone in this room knows better. “Forgive me, Kaitlyn. I’m just an old man stuck in his ways.”

I don’t accept his apology. I just plaster a fake, sweet grin on my face and sit next to Griffin.

Lachlan’s desk is a huge, dark oak affair that looks too big even for this large office. I assume it’s to look intimidating and powerful. In any other circumstance, it may work, but not today.

“I didn’t exactly come here today to discuss anything other than our pending contract. I have clearly held up my obligation and would like to start the transfer of power as soon as possible.”

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